Since we read Fireboat yesterday, and noticed the Little Red Lighthouse in the illustrations, I thought we'd read The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge today. The story was written by Hildegarde Swift and Lynd Ward, and is included in the Five in a Row curriculum.
This is the story of a small red lighthouse that "lives" on the banks of the Hudson River. He is very, very proud of the job he does keeping boats safe on the river. But one day, workmen show up, and start building a huge bridge (The George Washington Bridge). The great gray bridge has a huge light at its top, and the lighthouse feels unneeded and insignificant. This is made worse when one night, the lighthouse keeper doesn't show up to turn on the lights and bell.
The great gray bridge asks why the lighthouse doesn't shine it's light? They both have a job to do--the bridge's light protects the "ships of the air" but the boats still need the little lighthouse's light. Finally, the lighthouse keeper arrives, rushing because some boys had stolen his keys! The lighthouse flashes out, keeping the river safe. And while the lighthouse is still proud of what he does, he does so knowing that he's not quite the "MASTER OF THE RIVER" that he once thought.
A great story, and a wonderful tie in to a study about lighthouses and bridges!
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